Since 2 February, a total of 1,531 travellers have crossed the Rafah land crossing in both directions, nearly half of them wounded or ill patients seeking medical treatment, according to a report published by Al-Shorouk newspaper on Thursday.
In interviews at Arish Central Hospital and Sheikh Zuweid Central Hospital, patients and their families described severe shortages inside Gaza and expressed relief at receiving care in Egypt.
Thaer Abu Mostafa, who travelled with his wife and child, said the short distance to the crossing on the Palestinian side was prolonged by damaged infrastructure and restrictions.
“The situation completely changed when we reached the Egyptian side, with the warm reception and extensive medical and humanitarian care,” he said.
Mohamed Omran, being treated at Arish Central Hospital, said he suffered a shrapnel injury that penetrated his abdominal wall and required treatment unavailable in Gaza’s hospitals. “Not only were the hospitals affected by the aggression, everything in Gaza is no longer as it was,” he said, expressing hope to complete his treatment and return home.
In a nearby ward, Ahmed Mohamed Ramzi, a child from Gaza, was accompanied by his mother, who told the newspaper that her son suffers from severe anemia requiring intensive care.
She said conditions in Gaza prevented access to proper treatment and adequate nutrition, adding that his case is “one among thousands” needing services no longer available in the strip.
At Sheikh Zuweid Central Hospital, 28-year-old Iman Jibril Ibrahim from Al-Maghazi said she lost both feet after being hit by an Israeli tank shell last September.
She said she was initially transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza, which lacked sufficient medical resources, leading to complications. A mother of four whose children remain in Gaza with their father, she said she found “great care” in Egypt and is undergoing treatment for post-amputation complications.
Halima Mohamed Shehata, 31, accompanying Ibrahim, described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic,” citing shortages of medical supplies and doctors, and hospitals unable to accommodate the number of casualties. She added that Israeli army obstacles hindered their journey to Rafah.
Another patient, 55-year-old Esmat Saad El-Din El-Badran, said she sustained severe injuries to her left arm and shoulder in November 2023 and suffered additional shrapnel wounds and fractures in August 2024.
She said she lost her home and relatives during the war.
According to the report, services provided to Palestinian patients extend beyond medical treatment.
Volunteer teams working with the Humanitarian Services Office at Arish General Hospital receive ambulances upon arrival, assist patients and companions, assess urgent needs, and coordinate daily follow-ups with hospital administrations.
Recreational activities are also organized for accompanying family members in a designated tent inside the hospital compound.
The first batches of Palestinian evacuees and returnees allowed to move through Israeli-controlled areas during the war were subject to intensive security screening and interrogation procedures by Israeli forces, according to Palestinian officials, media reports, and human rights groups.
Israeli authorities have stated that all individuals moving through crossing points or evacuation corridors are subject to security checks to prevent the movement of militants.
Palestinian returnees, however, have reported prolonged interrogations, identity verification procedures, and questioning about family members, residential locations, and possible affiliations.
Some evacuees said they were separated by gender and age during screening, with men and adolescent boys undergoing additional questioning. Reports from rights organizations indicate that mobile phones were often inspected, biometric data collected, and background checks conducted before clearance.
The screening and interrogation process contributed to significant delays for civilians attempting to reach southern Gaza or exit points such as Rafah for medical evacuation. Families reported uncertainty over who would be permitted to pass and fear detention during the process.
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